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Posts Tagged ‘Catalytic’

Fragrance Lamps Slowly Heat Up Fragrance Lamp Oils Through a Process Called Catalytic Combustion

28 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

Many people don’t know a lot about fragrance lamps. Or, they have misguided notions about them. One misconception is that a fragrance lamp is not a safe item to have in a household, particularly if there are children or pets present. But the truth of the matter is that a fragrance lamp is a very safe product to have around. This is because while a flame is required to start the process of catalytic combustion that goes on in a lamp, it is extinguished within a few minutes of operation, and a special stone in the lamp continues to stay heated without the flame being present.

Honestly, if you would like to give your home a fresh, clean scent in an efficient and cost effective manner, then using a fragrance lamp may be the way to go. In addition to scenting a home with a pleasing aroma, fragrance lamps will also eliminate those not-so-pleasing odors. This occurs by the catalytic combustion process, which speeds up the decomposition process of those bad, odor-giving-off molecules. While those bad molecules are being destroyed, good scents are given off by aromatic fragrance lamp oils that are slowly heated and dispersed with the fragrance lamp’s stone.

Fragrance lamps have been in use for over one hundred years. Originally, the purpose of such a lamp was to add cleansing scents to the air while removing the bad scents. The alcohol in a fragrance lamp’s fuel is converted into anions, which are then heated and partnered with the bad smells in the air. They are then eliminated, and in their place is the beautiful scent that is included with the fragrance lamp.

The nice thing about fragrance lamps is that they are safe and effective. A flame is used initially, but can be safely extinguished completely within a few minutes. With no flame, there is no worry of fire, or of animals or children being burned. After that, the special stone that is built into the lamp continues to generate heat. The stone absorbs the fragrance, then re-releases it into the air during the catalytic conversion process. The room’s air is purified and lightly scented. So, what else is there to know about fragrance lamps? Well, you can swap out oils as you’d like.

Of course, you should always clean the stone and internal parts of the fragrance lamp, so that you don’t have oils mixing together and creating potentially confusing or unpleasant odors. The stones can also be replaced as need be. Finally, you should know that you can purchase fragrance lamps and related accessories online.

Kimberly Green is a firm believer is the use of fragrance lamps. For entertaining or just your own aromatherapy needs, try beautiful fragrance lamp oils in your fragrance lamp to compliment any setting.

Selective Catalytic Reduction – How NOx Reduction Make the World Go Green

26 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

With the turn of the century, there has been an increase in concern over the health of the planet. Scientist and the government work hard to try and make changes to the environment. There was a realization that without the world, there was no life and therefore, it was imperative to save the world. With nations continuing to industrialize, it has become increasingly difficult to curb the greenhouse gases and dangerous toxins that are destructive to the world.

One of those toxins is called NOx. NO is nitric oxide and NO2 is nitrogen dioxide. Both of these are components of NOx in different concentrations. Typically, people have no idea that there is NOx around because not only is it colorless, it also has no odor. Because of this, it can unwittingly be released into the environment.

There are a plethora of places that have nitrogen oxide emissions. Almost half of all these emissions come directly from automobiles. At the turn of the century, a lot of people were driving around in large, gas guzzling SUVs that did nothing more than produce an increase in these emissions.  Ironically, the economic downturn has shaped the society into a more green-friendly nation.  However, anything that uses some sort of a hydrocarbon for its gas will produce some form of NOx. Typically, most are found to be NO.

Often times, people question why this matters. They don’t appreciate the environmental concerns connected to NOx. The most important concern is the effect NOx has on the human respiratory system. NO combines with ammonia which leads to the formation of nitric acid which is an incredibly strong acid that can do a serious amount of damage to the body. Small particles get into the lungs and puncture holes in them which can lead to a potentially fatal result.

There are things that are being done to try and prevent this NOx from becoming too much of an issue. In some areas, one of the big tools being used is selective catalytic reduction. What this does in non-technical terms is create elemental nitrogen and water. Neither of these is harmful on the environment. In more technical terms, urea is used in the engine and then broken down into ammonia. The products of this reaction, after it has gone through a catalyst are those elemental nitrogen and water.

The SCR Catalyst has been shown to do a significant amount of work on the NOx reduction. However, there are other routes, as well, that can be used to try and reduce the NOx concentrations in the environment. One of these is the use of engine management which, as the name suggests, is the control of the amount of emissions in an engine. There are fewer emissions released, but then the engine runs less effectively which results in the build-up of soot.

One final method is a NOx trap which catches the NOx and then catalytically converts that stored NOx, through acts of reduction, into basic N2 and CO2. Nitrogen in its elemental form is not damaging to the environment. While CO2 can be damaging to the environment, it is not nearly as damaging as the NOx gases that are released by the automobiles. CO2 is the lesser of two evils.

What these three techniques have in common is that they all are trying to reduce the NOx levels. However, SCR catalyst is the one that has been shown to have the most effect on the reduction of NOx concentration levels. There is no concern of a lower effectiveness of the automobile and there is no need for a “lesser of two evils” approach because most of the NOx is converted into water and elemental nitrogen. The only downfall is that there needs to be some way of getting the urea into the system. If that occurs, this is definitely an effective tool.

Each technique has its ups and downs. Some work better than others (SCR), but even that has its negatives. It is important to determine what the cost to productiveness ratio is that automobile companies are willing to spend. What is too much? What is clear, though, is that the environment is not getting any stronger and if people are truly concerned about it, they need to take the necessary steps to prevent against further degradation, if that means spending a little more money, that might be the necessary course of action.

Ant Onaf is a content producer in association with Cormetech Inc., a leading producer of titania-based ceramic honeycomb catalyst for nitrogen oxide emissions control used in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems for air pollution control.

Sure Signs Your Volkswagen Catalytic Converter Needs Replacing

23 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

It took the Clean Air Act to help make passenger cars cleaner. Under the Nixon Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed in a bid to help reduce pollution and set standards on vehicle emissions with various legislation passed or amended to bring that about. To that end, beginning in 1975 car manufacturers began to install catalytic converters in a bid to reduce pollution, one of the most important parts related to your vehicle’s exhaust system.

Every car engine produces gases which if left untreated can be harmful to the environment. Other than a pure electric vehicle, no passenger car is one hundred percent free of emissions, but some come pretty darn close. Even with all of the modern exhaust systems and engines in place, every car pollutes to some extent.

How Your Catalytic Converter Works

Your vehicle’s catalytic converter can be found on its exhaust line inserted between the exhaust manifold and the muffler. Pellets inside the converter work to alter damaging gases into innocuous gases before they leave the tailpipe for open air. Quality standards are lowered if a catalytic converter is damaged or broken, requiring replacement as soon as possible. States with strict emissions testing will fail any car without a functioning catalytic converter in place.

There are four revealing signs which signal when a catalytic converter will soon give out. They are:

Rusted or damaged converter body or end tubes. Bits of substrate (matter) found in other sections of the exhaust system. No rattle detected in a pellitized converter (If the converter doesn’t rattle, the pellets may have melted and blended together or perhaps fallen out). A rattle detected in a monolithic converter (A rattle in this kind of converter indicates the substrate has separated.)

Change Your Broken Or Damaged Catalytic Converter

If you see hear or see evidence of any of these signs, then you should change your catalytic converter immediately.

The Exhaust and Catalytic Market in the UK

22 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

Exhausts & Catalysts

Modern Mazda Catalytic Converter for Powerful Internal Combustion Engine

22 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

To effectively reduce the pollution levels coming from your engine exhausts, your vehicle employs a highly efficient Mazda catalytic converter to reduce the toxicity of emission gases. In any internal combustion engine, the use of catalytic converters comes necessary to pass the required emission tests so you can legally drive in any highway or street. Due to the advent of emphasizing the need to address the environmental issues, EPA has already tightened its regulations in limiting the combustion by-products that are released through the atmosphere. As among the forefront innovators when in comes to automotive engineering, Mazda has equipped their excellent lines of automobile with catalytic converters that feature advanced exhaust purification and emission reduction capacities with the company?s standing quest in delivering the best possible fuel economy they could create.

To efficiently facilitate chemical reactions among fuel exhausts, catalytic converters have gone a long way since their power-sapping and pellet-style versions. Now, newer honeycomb converters have been developed to deliver precision flow of exhaust gases while cleaning up your engine from nasty pollutants. Your powerful engine may employ oxidation or three-way type of Mazda catalytic converter. To regulate the toxicity of exhausts, an oxidation converter takes main focus on the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon contents of gases. As the name implies, this type of converter makes use of an oxidation process to speed up the rate of converting carbon monoxides and hydrocarbons into harmless water vapors and carbon dioxide. The three-way type facilitates an oxidation process similar to the oxidation type. Only, it also takes focus in the reduction of nitrogen oxide levels. The inside shell of the part has BB-sized or Monolithic substrate that serves as effect agents that significantly makes the combustion by-products more acceptable to the environment. The substrate material is plated with thin coating of rhodium, platinum, or palladium to assist or speed up the chemical reactions required to reduce emission levels.

Because the part constantly handles harsh working conditions, damages will come inevitable once it has served well and long enough. Broken or rusted out converter body is a clear indication of an already failing part. To have early Mazda catalytic converter diagnosis that is to be followed by timely repair, you must be sensitive enough to the indications delivered by your engine OBD systems. The system makes a great tool in offering accurate and enough information to help qualified service technicians properly diagnose and repair converters during routine checks for maintenance. Because the system is designed to alert you once something goes wrong in the emission control system mechanisms, it could help you optimize the efficiency and service life of your stock converters. In case the part goes beyond repair, you must immediately find new and precision fitting replacement to maintain engine precision and enjoy excellent fuel economy with powerful engine performance. Prolonging the use of an already inefficient converter could cause serious engine damages due to failure and imprecision. A high flow Mazda Catalytic Converter make a great valued investment you can reward your vehicle. Aside from keeping your engine and exhaust clean, the part could yield substantial increases to horsepower and torque so your Mazda ride follows the course of your driving style with no fail.

I’m a high school educator in the school near my place. But beside from being educator I enjoy writing about things that I like and love.

Be Environment-friendly With Saturn Catalytic Converters

21 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

Global warming has now becoming a major issue and most of the time the common culprit is air pollution due to the harmful emissions of cars. That is why numerous car companies have come up with different ways to battle this issue. One recent solution is the introduction of hybrid cars in the market. Not only does it cost less because it uses less gas, it also helps the environment. Another common alternative is the installation of catalytic converters.

Saturn catalytic converters basically reduce harmful emissions of vehicles. In order to reduce emissions, modern car engines carefully control the amount of fuel they burn. They try to keep the air-to-fuel ratio very close to the calculated ideal ratio of air to fuel called, stoichiometric point. Most cars today are equipped with a three-way catalytic converter. This refers to the three emissions it helps to reduce, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx molecules. A catalytic converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidization catalyst. Both consist of a base structure coated with a catalyst such as platinum, rhodium and/or palladium. The purpose is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of the catalyst to the exhaust flow, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required. Inside Saturn catalytic converters are honeycomb set of passageways or small ceramic beads coated with catalysts. A chemical reaction then takes place to make the pollutants less harmful.

Saturn catalytic converters operate in three stages. The first stage is the reduction catalyst, where platinum and rhodium are used to help reduce the NOx emissions. Next, it reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. The final stage is a control system that monitors the exhaust stream and uses this information to control the fuel injection system.

Through the help of various innovations like Saturn catalytic converters, problems regarding the environment will not be hard to fight. All Saturn vehicles are equipped with high quality Saturn catalytic converters that will release less harmful emissions.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Churn Out Only Good Exhaust With Vw Catalytic Converter

20 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

The catalytic converter found in the exhaust system of the Volkswagen is an emission-reducing device that subjects harmful exhaust gases into an aftertreatment before they are emitted out of the vehicle. Traces of unburned elements called hydrocarbons, if allowed to exit the exhaust untreated, pose harmful effects on the environment. To counter this threat, the VW catalytic converter exposes the exhaust gases to a chemical reaction. It burns toxic pollutants, molecule by molecule, and converts them into less toxic gases. There are three main regulated emissions that the VW catalytic converter helps reduce: carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2). To do this, the converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst.

The VW catalytic converter typically consists of a core, wash coat, and catalyst. The catalysts fitted on every Volkswagen exhaust system are the chief failsafe of the car against harmful exhaust. They work two ways: reducing the nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen, and oxidizing the carbon monoxides into carbon dioxide. Palladium, platinum and rhodium are precious metals used as catalysts, with rhodium generally used as a reduction catalyst, palladium as an oxidization catalyst, and platinum used in both reduction and oxidation. Cerium, iron, manganese and nickel are also used, although each has its own limitations. Because the catalysts are ordinarily made of precious metals, the VW catalytic converter works on a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of catalyst to the exhaust stream, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required.

Volkswagen models use different kinds of VW catalytic converters, depending on the type of the car’s engine. For diesel engines, which uses compression ignition, the diesel oxidation catalyst is used. Compared to a VW catalytic converter on an internal combustion engine, the diesel catalyst uses the excess oxygen in the exhaust gas stream to oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons to water and carbon dioxide, but is incapable of reducing nitrous oxides.

On the flip side of their limitations in exhaust reductions, the catalysts are reinforced by ceramic honeycomb cores, often called catalyst support. These converters often reach 90 percent effectiveness and are designed to snuff out additional exhaust contaminants like diesel odor and soot. Installing a VW catalytic converter has to correspond with the engine type, as the different catalysts are very much sensitive to gasoline types. Iron and rhodium catalysts, for example, are ineffective in the face of lead and prolonged exposure to leaded gasoline emission may poison the VW catalytic converter and render the exhaust system unguarded.

In addition to catalyst poisoning, the catalyst is likewise vulnerable to the same hazards as many of the other parts found in the car’s exhaust system. Road debris, road splash containing dissolved salt, driving mishaps and other environmental conditions greatly affect the performance and reliability of the VW catalytic converter. Additionally, engine misfires can overheat and destroy the converter, especially when excessive amounts of unburned fuel are broken down within the catalyst.

George Wiggins is a business man and also a part-time bartender. He is a car enthusiast and been exploring different kinds of car modifications for the past years.

Safe-guarding the Environment Through Catalytic Converters

19 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

For years, vehicle manufacturers have been looking for means to make their products more at peace with the environment. These companies would actually go with innovating fuel-efficient vehicles that are more earth-friendly. One of the harmful elements coming from vehicles is the noxious emission, which is believed to be a big factor for global warming. Thanks to technology, there is a way to lessen or even avoid polluting the air, that is with the help of a catalytic converter, which is made out of high-quality metal that even Zinc cannot efface.

Saturn, is up for the challenge of a cleaner emission through the Saturn Catalytic Converter. Minimizing the Nitrogen Oxide coming out from the vehicle to Nitrogen and Oxygen and oxidizing Carbon Monoxide to Carbon Dioxide are the primary responsibilities of the Saturn Catalytic Converter. Moreover, the catalytic converter also oxidizes the unused hydrocarbons to Carbon Oxide and water. Through these procedures, Saturn users can expect a cleaner emission.

Like Saturn, protecting the environment is just as important as protecting passengers for Subaru. The Subaru Catalytic Converter is ready to safe-guard the environment by filtering the emission of the vehicle. Subaru has The Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) certification which is possible with the aide of the Subaru Catalytic Converter. By filtering the polluted emission, Subaru users have a 90 percent cleaner output.

Keeping the catalytic converters up and running should also be taken into consideration. Vehicles with these environment-friendly catalytic converters should only use lead-free fuel. These helpful auto parts may have varying results depending on the maker. The Saturn Catalytic Converter and Subaru Catalytic Converter may be carrying different brands, but their end goal is still the same anyhow—safeguarding the natural environment to which their customers will surely appreciate.

Miranda Restelle is a freelance writer and car enthusiast. She believes that women should see the beauty and style in cars, as they see the beauty and style in fashion.

Acura Catalytic Converters Make the Car More Environment-friendly

18 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

Vehicles today are fast becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. The increasing demand for automotive vehicles has greatly affected the environment and the amount of air pollution is steadily growing. To help solve this problem, car companies, like Acura, are tapping into their resources to produce environment-friendly cars. One of the earliest solutions that worked was the installation of catalytic converters into the vehicles.

The Acura catalytic converter has contributed a great deal in reducing toxic emissions in the atmosphere. It is the stainless steel box mounted in the exhaust system. A catalytic converter contains a catalyst made from a metal such as platinum, palladium or rhodium. A catalyst is defined as anything that induces or accelerates a change. The base of the Acura catalytic converter is protected from vibration and shock by a resilient ceramic or metallic mat. Catalytic converters have been used on cars since 1975. Back then only one catalytic converter was installed; today, cars may have two or more depending on the engine configuration and manufacturer. The Acura catalytic converter changes poisonous gases to harmless carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Most cars today are equipped with a three-way catalytic converter. This refers to the three emissions it helps to reduce, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of Nitrogen or NOx molecules. This type of catalytic converter uses two different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidization catalyst. Both consist of a base structure coated with a catalyst such as platinum, rhodium or palladium. The purpose is to create a structure that exposes the maximum surface area of the catalyst to the exhaust flow, while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required. Inside the catalytic converter is a honeycomb set of passageways or small ceramic beads coated with catalysts. A chemical reaction takes place within to make the pollutants less harmful.

An Acura catalytic converter operates in three stages. The first stage is the reduction catalyst. It uses platinum and rhodium to help reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions. Next, it reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. This catalyst aids the reaction of the carbon oxides and hydrocarbons with the remaining oxygen in the exhaust gas. The final stage is a control system that monitors the exhaust stream. Produced results of this activity influences the way the fuel injection system is controlled. Still, unlike other cat-cons, high maintenance is not needed for an Acura catalytic converter. It just needs to be checked once in a while to ensure its efficiency. If vehicle performance begins to turn rough or if the car produces smoke from the tailpipe, it is recommended to have the vehicle check by a mechanic. Symptoms of a faulty or failing converter may include failing an emissions test, poor performance, increased engine temperature along with bucking of the car or hesitation. Neglecting these warning signs can cause expensive damage to the converter and may require a replacement.

Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.

Lessen Environmental Woes With a Catalytic Converter

18 November 2009 | No Comments » | admin

As a car owner, you probably have done a lot of maintenance jobs for your most-prized possession?your stylish Honda vehicle. On a regular basis, you wash it, have its oil checked, do annual tune up, and inspect it for any malfunctioning or damaged parts. However, these efforts are all useless if your car faithfully does its share in adding pollutants in the air. As a Honda owner, you can do something to lessen the toxic emissions of your car. How? Have your car undergo annual emission tests and install a Honda catalytic converter in its exhaust system. In fact, you need to do the latter before your vehicle can pass the emission tests.

Even though Honda vehicles are supposed to completely burn fuel and air in the engine, chances are, unburned fuel can slip away as toxic emissions. These exhaust emissions consist of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. Such odorless gases are harmful to people?s health and environment?s condition. To lessen the emission of toxic gases, devices like the Honda catalytic converter are included in the exhaust system. It contains reduction and oxidation catalysts that convert poisonous gases into harmless elements. The reduction catalysts take care of transforming nitrogen oxides into harmless exhausts. On the other hand, the oxidation catalyst completes the combustion of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides. These processes result in the emission of less toxic gases, which in turn leads to better fuel efficiency and vehicle performance.

If you think it?s time to clean up your car?s exhaust emissions, check out our online catalog of quality Honda catalytic converters. We have stocks of Honda model-specific catalytic converters so you are sure to find what you are looking for. Purchase a Honda catalytic converter now and see for yourself the benefits of cleaner emissions.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

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